It was just before lunchtime yesterday when the mystery of who owns Jackson Way Properties Ltd began to unravel.
It started with a well-built man in a blue blazer and dark trousers stepping forward to take the oath at an arbitration hearing in Dún Laoghaire to determine what compensation should be paid to Jackson Way following the acquisition of part of its lands in south Dublin by a local authority for construction of a motorway.
Speaking with an English accent, the man's name and identity remained unclear for several seconds. Then at 12.40 p.m. the witness, who was lightly tanned with greying hair, told the hearing he was the sole director and shareholder of Jackson Way Properties Ltd. His name was Mr Alan Holland, his age 47.
His appearance took Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the local authority fighting the size of Jackson Way's €47 million compensation claim, completely by surprise.
Mr Dermot Flanagan SC, for the council, asked for the proceedings to be adjourned.
Mr Dermot O'Neill SC, for Jackson Way, said his client was anxious to get back to the UK. The arbitrator presiding over the hearing, Mr John Shackleton, said Mr Flanagan would have to ask questions there and then.
Mr Flanagan asked several questions, some of which were ruled out as irrelevant. At one point, Mr Shackleton told Mr Flanagan: "I'm well aware the county council are extremely interested in other matters to do with this company" but they were extraneous to the hearing.
Within 20 minutes, the questioning was over and Mr Holland left the hearing, carrying a blue cabin-sized suitcase.
Asked by journalists if he intended giving evidence to the Flood tribunal, he replied: "I've said I've no comment to make of these matters. I've a plane to catch. I've family waiting for me." He left, accompanied by his solicitor, Mr Stephen Miley.